Nutrition issue ignored

 

 

Posted: Sunday, April 6, 2014 12:00 am

Will U.S. military forces stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014? From the standpoint of whether they will be there to "protect women and children," the answer may be almost meaningless, as we have done so poorly at it up to now.

Consider one major nutrition issue: availability of iodine for young children. About 10 million children (30 percent of Afghanistan's population) have been born during the 11 years since we invaded. According to UNICEF and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, "iodine deficiency is the most prevalent cause of brain damage worldwide."

In 2009, about 70 percent of these children had iodine deficiency. The United Nations reports that general malnutrition among Afghan children is still growing.

Beyond the vast sums spent on the military, $100 million has been sent to Iraq for non-military reconstruction. Iodized salt for one year would cost 5 cents per child. How is it that this simple but essential issue has not been addressed?

The only possible answer is ignorance - our ignorance. If ignorance is the cause of this, what else are we ignorant of?

LARRY GLENN